Adjustable lateral awning arm with single pivot point



NOV. 30, 1954 E- P, D'AZZO 2,695,663

ADJUSTABLE LATERAL AWNING WITH SINGLE PIVOT POINT Filed April 21, 1952 if 2 sheets-sheet 1 l@ if l] INVENOR.

ERROL P. DZZO NOV. 30, 1954 E p, D'Azzo 2,695,663

ADJUSTABLE LATERAL AWNING ARM WITH SINGLE PIVOT POINT Filed April 2l, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J4) INVENTOR.

ERROL P D'Azzo ADJUSTABLE LATERAL AWNING ARM WITH SINGLE PIVOT POINT Errol P. DAzzo, New York, N. Y.

Application April 21, 1952, Serial No. 283,274

Claims. (Cl. 160-22) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in awning assemblies.

More specifically, the present invention proposes certain improvements in awning assemblies to include novel stop means for relieving the awning canvas of supporting the weight of the extended awning arms and to prevent the application of excessive tensioning pressures against the awning canvas in a manner to extend the normal life of such awning canvases beyond that obtained from the awning canvases of the assemblies now in common use.

In the construction of common awning assemblies now in use, it is generally the practice to pivotally mount the extendable awning arms upon arm support members which are in turn pivotally supported within the usual 4awning box so that as the awning canvas is unrolled from its supporting roller the arms extend themselves out of the open front of the awning box drawing the awning canvas with them. The support members usually mount a tension bar rearward of the pivots of the support members and beneath the awning canvas so that as the support members are pivoted upward by the extension of the arms, the tensioning bar is caused to engage the bottom of the awning canvas pushing upward thereon across the complete width thereof so as to tension the awning canvas in the extended position of the arms. The prior art constructions are characterized by freedom of pivotal movement of the arm support members with the objectionable result that the awning canvas must support the entire weight of the extended awning arms and the tensioning bar exerts excessive pressures against the awning canvas.

It is the primary purpose of the present invention to provide stop means on the brackets which support the arm support members so as to limit upward pivotal movement of the support members in a manner to cause the support members to assume the function of supporting the weight of the extended awning arms and of controlling the tensioning pressure that will be exerted against the awning canvas by the tensioning bar.

As a further object, it is proposed to make the stop means adjustable for controlling the outward and down ward inclination of the awning arms in their fully extended positions and for varying the amount of tension ing pressure exerted against the bottom of the awning canvas by the tension bar.

The invention further proposes providing awning assemblies with an adjustable stop means of the type described which is simple anddurable, which is effective for its intended purposes and which can be included in awning assemblies without materially increasing the man t ufacturing costs thereof.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of -the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

On the acompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a sectional diagrammatic view of an awning assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, but illustrating the position of the parts when the awning is extended.

Fig. 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the United States Patent O awning box taken substantially on lthe line 33 of Fig. l.

2,695,563 Patented Nov. 30, 1954 ICC Fig. 4 is a partial vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but illustrating the position of the part when the awning is extended.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the abutment member forming part of the stop means of the present invention.

The awning assembly, according to the present invention, includes an awning box 10 set into a suitable cavity 11 formed in a wall 12 over a store front or the like. Such awning boxes 10 are usually constructed of metal and at the front thereof the box has a front opening 14. A flashing 15 extends from the front of the box 10 above the top thereof to function to prevent rain and snow from entering the front opening 14 during inclement weather.

Rotatively supported within the box 10, there is a roller 16 to which the usual awning canvas 17 is attached along one edge so that rotation of the roller in one direction or the other will cause the awning canvas to be wound on the roller or unwound from the roller 16. Extended from the ends of the roller 16 are the usual end aligned trunnions 18 by which the roller is rotatively supported, see particularly Fig. 3. The rotative support of the trunnions 18 or the mechanism for turning the roller 16 to wind and unwind the awning canvas 17 are. not shown on the drawing, as such mechanisms are generally known in the art and form no part of the present invention.

Positioned within the box 10, at the ends of the awning roller 16 there are brackets 19. The brackets 19 are mounted upon the rear wall of the awning box 10 by means of suitable threaded studs 20 which extend forward from the rear wall of the box and upon which nuts 21 are threaded after the studs have been passed through suitable holes in the brackets 19. The brackets 19 are extended forwardly from the rear wall of the awning box and have spaced tines 22 at the front ends thereof. Integrally formed with the bottom of each of the brackets 19, there is a shelf portion 23. As will be best understood from a comparison of Figs. 1 to 5, the shelf portions 23 bridge the space between the tines 22 and are stopped short of the front ends of the tines. The shelf portions 23 function as part of the stop means of the present invention as will become clear as the present description proceeds.

An arm support member 24 is provided for each of the brackets 19. Each of the arm support members 24 is formed with a downwardly and forwardly extended bar portion 25 fitted snugly between the tines 22 of the associated bracket. `The bar portions 25 are pivotally supported on the brackets by means of pivot pins 26 arranged in end alignment and passed through the front ends of the tines 22 and the front endsof the bar portions 25. In the fully retracted position of the awning assembly shown in Fig. l, the bottoms of the bar portions 25 rearward of the pivot pins 26 rest on the top faces of the shelf portions 23, as best shown in Fig. 4. Therefore, the shelf portions 23, in addition to functioning as part of the stop means of the present invention, further act to limit pivotal movement of the arm support members relative to the brackets 19 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. l and 2.

Pivotally supported on each of the support members 24, there is an awning arm 27 of the collapsible type. The rear or inner ends of the awning arms 27 are fitted within cntouts formed in the top portions of the arm support members 24 and are pivotally retained therein by pivot pins 28 extended across the cutouts. Each of the awning arms 27 is constructed of pivotally connected end aligned sections and a decorative closure member 29 is mounted on the outer ends of the outer sections of the arms. The

closure member 29 extends the full length of the awning p and generally known in the art.

Mounted between the tops of the arm. support members 24, there is a tension bar 30. The tension bar 30 extends the full length of the distance between the support members 24 and is located beneath the awning canvas ,17 on the inner side of the pivot pins 26, see Fig. l.

lport members against further pivotal f to the brackets.

l, standing the inclusion of the stop The construction of the awning assembly as thus far described is substantially conventional, with the exception of the shelf portions 23 of the brackets 19. The assembly is such that the weight of the closure member 29 and the .major portion of the Weight of the awning arms .27 are located on the front or outer sides of the pivot pins 26 vand the combined weight is greater than the weight of the support members 24 and tension bar 30 located on the inner or rear sides of the pivot pins 26. Thus, as the roller 16 is turned to unwind the awning canvas 17, the Vgreater weight of the closure member 29 and the arms 27 will cause the support members 24 to be tilted upward to the position shown in Fig. 2. As a result the arms 27 will be inclined downward and forward to extend themselves by the action of gravity as unwinding of the awning canvas i 17 is continued and until the fully extended position of the awning arms 27 is reached. As a function of the upward and forward pivoting of the support members 24, the tension bar 30 will also be moved upward and forward to bear rigidly against the bottom face of the awning canvas 17 and tension the awning canvas between the roller 16 and the closure member 29.

Stop means is provided in connection with each of the support members 24 to limit upward and forward pivoting of the support members and thereby relieve the awning l.

canvas from supporting .the weight of the extended awning arms 27 and the closure member 29 and to limit the pressure which will be exerted against the bottom face of the awning canvas 17 by the tension bar 3i). To vpermit the inclusion of the stop means, the front ends of the bar portions 25 of the support members 24 are formed with inwardly extended cutouts 31 which bear the intermediate portions of the pivot pins 26. Turnably mounted on each ofthe pivot pins 26 within the cutouts 31 of the bar portions 25 there is an abutment member in the form of a metallic disc 32. Each disc 32 is formed with a central aperture 33, see particularly Fig. 6, for passage of the associated pivot pin 26. At its bottom, each of the discs 32 is provided with a dependent lug 34. The lugs 34 depend beneath the tines 22 of the brackets 19 to abut on the front ends of the shelf portions 23 to restrict turning movement of the discs 32 in a clock-wise direction, as viewed in Figs. l, 2, 4 and 5. Substantially over the depending lugs 34 each of the discs 32 is cut away to provide upwardly and rearwardly extended lip portions 35.

Stops are providedwithin the cutouts 31 of the arm `supportmembery 24 to'abut the lip portions 35 of the discs r,32"[a11d `restrict 'pivotal movement of the arm support `irterrlbers'g24 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in'Figs.

1 and The stops of the arm support members 24 comi prise -set screws 36 threaded into downwardly and rearwardly extended internally threaded, holes 37 formed in the bar portions 25 of the arm Isupport members 24 at the inner ends of the cutouts 31,"s ee particularly Figs. 4 and 5.

In the pivoted positions ofthe arm support member 24 relative to the brackets 19,'the top ends of the set screws 37 abut the 11p portions 35 of .the discs 32 holding the supmovement relative yIt will now be apparent that with the set screws 36 abutting the lip portions the downward inclination of the awning arms 27 Will be controlled and the full weight of the awning arms and the closure member 29 will be supported by the support members 24 rather than by the awning canvas 17. In addition, pressures exerted by the tension bar 30 against the bottom face of the awning canvas 17 will be controlled by the adjusted position of the set screws 36 relative to the bar portions 25 of the arm support member 24. At no time should the adjustment of the set screws be such that the tension bar 30 would push up on the awning canvas 17 to draw inward on the closure member 29 moving the awning arms 27 slightly toward their collapsed position in which event the awning canvas 17 would again support the full weight of the closure member 29 and the awning arms 12T/notwithmeans ofthe present rnventlon.

Adjustments 'of the setv screws '36 `relativeto .the bar portions 25 of the'arm support members t24can be eiected only 1n the fully extended position of the awning assembly. I n the fully extendedposition, the awning arms 27 at each end of the awning assembly are pushed upward pivoting the support members 24 back to the position shown in Flg. l. Using a right angular screw driver, the slotted tops of the set screws 36 can be reached through the front opening 14 of the awning box 10 and turned thereby to be extended or retracted by the set screws as may be necessary.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1s:

1. In an awning assembly having a box including a front opening and within which a roller is rotatively supported with an awning canvas rolled thereon, brackets mounted within the box at the ends ot the roller and having spaced forwardly extended tines, arm support members respectively pivotally mounted at their bottoms between the tines of said brackets, collapsible armspivotally carried by said support members and to which one edge of the awning canvas is attached, said canvas being movable through the front opening and extendable as it is unwound from the roller, extension of said arms through the front opening of the box causing said support members to pivot upward slightly, a tension bar extended between said support members beneath the awning canvas and rearward of the pivots of said support members and movable upwardly with said support members and engaging and tensioning the awning canvas in the extended positions of said arms, and stop means limiting upward pivoting of said support members relieving the awning canvas of supporting the full weight of the extended arms and thereby preventing the tension bar from exerting excessive tensioning pressure on the awning canvas, said stop means comprising discs, said arms support members having bar portions at their bottoms positioned between said tines and formed with inwardly extended cutouts within which said discs are mounted concentric with the pivot axes of said support members, means restraining said discs against rotation in the direction in which said arm support members pivot when said arms are being extended, a lip portion formed on each disc, and a stop member on each bar portion to engage said lip portion and restraining pivoting of the associated bar portion.

2. ln an awning assembly having a box including a front opening and within which a roller is rotatively supported with an awning canvas rolled thereon, brackets mounted within the box at the ends of the roller and having spaced forwardly extended tines, arm support members respectively pivotally mounted at their bottoms between the tines of said brackets, collapsible arms pivotally carried by said support members and to which one edge of the awning ,canvas is attached, said canvas being movable through the front opening Aand extendable as it is unwound from the roller, extension of said arms through the front opening of the box causing said support members to `pivot upward slightly, a tension bar extended between said support members beneath the awning canvas and rearward of the pivots of said support members and movable upwardly with said support members and engaging and tensioning the awning canvas in the extended positions of said arms, and stop means limiting upward pivoting of said support members relieving the awning canvas of supporting the full weight of the extended arms and thereby preventing the tension bar from exerting excessive tensioning pressure on the awning canvas, said stop means comprising discs, said arm support members having bar portions at their bottoms positioned between said tines and formed with inwardly extended cutouts within which said discs are mounted concentric with the pivot axes of said support members, means restraining said discs against rotation in the direction in which said arm support members pivot when said arms are being extended, a lip portion formed on each disc, and a stop member on each bar portion to engage said lip portion and restraining pivoting of the associated bar portion, said stop members being adjustable to control the downward inclination of said arms in their extended positions and the tension exerted by said tension bar against the bottom of the awning canvas.

3. In an awning assembly having a box including a front opening and within which a roller is rotatively supported with an awning canvas rolled thereon, brackets mounted within the Vbox at the ends of the roller and having spaced forwardly extended tines, arm support members respectively pivotally mounted at their bottoms between the tines of said brackets, collapsible arms pivotally carried by said support members and to which one edge of the awning canvas is attached, said canvas being movable through the front opening and extendable as it is unwound from the roller, extension of said arms through the front opening of the box causing said support members to pivot upward slightly, a tension bar extended between said support members beneath the awning canvas and rearward of the pivots of said support members and movable upwardly with said support members and engaging and tensioning the awning canvas in the extended positions of said arms, and stop` means limiting upward pivoting of said support members relieving the awning canvas of supporting the full weight of the extended arms and thereby preventing the tension bar from exerting excessive tensioning pressure on the awning canvas, said stop means comprising discs, said arm support members having bar portions at their bottoms positioned between said tines and 'formed with inwardly extended cutouts within which said discs are mounted concentric with the pivot axes of said support members, means restraining said discs against rotation in the direction in which said arm support menibers pivot when said arms are being extended, a lip portion formed on each disc, and a stop member on each bar portion to engage said lip portion and restraining pivoting of the associated bar portion, said disc restraining means comprising a depending lug on each disc, and shelf portions on the bottom faces of said brackets and against the front ends of which said lugs abut.

4. In an awning assembly having a box including a front opening and within which a roller is rotatively supported with an awning canvas rolled thereon, brackets mounted within the box at the ends of the roller and having spaced forwardly extended tines, arm support members respectively pivotally mounted at their bottoms between the tines of said brackets, collapsible arms pivotally carried by said support members and to which one edge of the awning canvas is attached, said canvas being movable through the front opening and extendable as it is unwound from the roller, extension of said arms through the front opening of the box causing said support members to pivot slightly, a tension bar extended between said support members beneath the awning canvas and rearward of the pivots of said support members and movable upwardly with said support members and engaging and tensioning the awning canvas in the extended positions of said arms, and stop means arm support members having bar portions at their bot- I toms positioned between said tines and formed with inwardly extended cutouts within which said discs are mounted concentric with the pivot axes of said support members, means restraining said discs against rotation in the direction in which said arm support members pivot when said arms are being extended, a lip portion formed on each disc, and a stop member on each bar portion to engage said lip portion and restraining pivoting of the associated bar portion, said disc restraining means comprising a depending lug on each disc, and shelf portions on the bottom faces of said brackets and against the front ends of which said lugs abut, said shelf portions being extended across the spaces between the tines of said brackets at the bottom thereof to provide a rest for said arm support members.

5. In an awning assembly having a box. including a front opening and within which a roller is rotatively supported with an awning canvas rolled thereon, brackets mounted within the box at the ends of the roller and having spaced forwardly extended tines, arm support members respectively pivotally mounted at their bottoms between the tines of said brackets, collapsible arms pivotally carried by said support members and to which one edge of the awning canvas is attached, said canvas being movable through the front opening and extendable as it is unwound from the roller, extension of said arms through the front opening of the box causing said support members to pivot upward slightly, a tension bar extended between said support members beneath the awning canvas and rearward of the pivots of said support members and movable upwardly with said support members and engaging and tensioning the awning canvas in the extended positions of said arms, and stop means limiting upward pivoting of said support members relieving the awning canvas of supporting the full weight of the extended arms and`thereby preventing the tension bar from exerting excessive tensioning pressure on the awning canvas, said stop means comprising discs, said arm support members having bar portions at their bottoms positioned between said tines and formed with inwardly extended cutouts within which said discs are mounted concentric with the pivot axes of said support members, means restraining said discs against rotation in the direction in which said arm support members pivot when said arms are being extended, a lip portion formed on each disc, and a stop member on each bar portion to engage said lip portion `and restraining pivoting of the associated bar portion, said stop members comprising adjustable set screws mounted on the bar portions of said arm support members, the top ends of said set screws abutting said lip portions of said giscs in the pivoted positions of said arm support memers.

References Cited in the vtile of this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS Number Name Date 1,759,715 Schane May 20, 1930 1,842,402 Heiser Jan. 26, 1932 

